DHAKA: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Monday blasted her political opponent Khaleda Zia for allegedly planting snags at every step through politicizing the administration during the four-party coalition rule, which she said slowed down her work.  

"We are hitting hindrances everywhere. Whatever we try to do, we see the politicized administration is there,” she said about the pitfalls on her government’s way.

The PM added: “Each and every work has been slowed down for politicization and deliberately laid tangles.”  

Addressing a commemoration meeting organised by the City Awami League marking the National Mourning Day at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital, Hasina came down heavily on her archrival Khaleda with castigation over her decision to perform Umrah instead of visiting her sons.

“She did not visit her sons on the pretext that situation of the country was not good. How serious was the situation in the country that forbade her from visiting her sons? And what improvement of the country has taken place that prompted her to go for Umrah?” the PM posed the question.

Hasina said the US Federal Court verdict once proved that Khaleda’s sons were corrupt. “This is nothing but a loud voice of a thief’s mother,” she said annotating a Bengali proverb against her political archrival.

She questioned how a mother could stay aloof without visiting her son when they are ill.

Castigating the opposition leader for celebrating her birthday on August 15, Hasina wondered, “How perverted one can be to do that!”

She said if the people live better, BNP cannot tolerate that, which prompted them to pose a threat of anarchy.  

City AL acting president MA Aziz chaired the meeting while AL leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, writer Selina Hossain and economist ABul Barkat were also present.

BDST 2115 HRS, AUGUST 30, 2010.